Story The story of a coach

[innes]

2008; 24th May

The plane was swaying, fighting this tropical storm that halted the player's journey into South Africa. Anxiety ran through every single player on that plane, anxiety that made their hands shake, anxiety that made their blood rush so fast that their body itself was like one whole heart.

The journey did not reflect what I saw; darkness. Closing my eyes, thinking of my wife and family, probably now eating their homegrown coconuts back in the carribean... My kids slurping that last bit of juice from the fury fruit... picking up a bat and ball, running to the beach, wanting to reach the top level of cricket- something their father had never managed to do.

I awoke with a shock. The plane had stopped on the ground. I peered out the window of the aircraft and I read:
Johannesburg International
We had made it. The West Indian boys, the captain, and myself; the coach. We were ready.

I rubbed my eyes, gradually got out of my chair and walked out into the airport.

Leading from the front, I stopped, turned and spoke to my players, my team, my army.
They were all stood there,

Chanderpaul, the man who kept me going, my captain

Gayle, a superstar, my superstar

Sarwan, looking calm in his bandana, ready for anything

Hinds, inexperienced, looking pale and fatigued

Ganga, perhaps one of the weaker players, but who many liked

Smith, nodding his head in confidence

Powell, looking on with a smirk, a smirk letting everyone know he is there

Samuels, looking even more cool than Sarwan, the ice-man

Morton, my protection

Ramdin, my little keeps

Bravo, just my hero

The other Smith, giving me a slight wink

Collymore, my experience, someone I can rely on

Bradshaw, another one of my pace attack

Edwards, my rapid paceman

Banks, young gun whos chance it is to shine

Mohammed, My spinning master

and Lara, the star who came out of retirement for this one last series.

'Do your families proud, do your country proud, and do me proud, for the South Africans believe you are going to get walked over, but thats not gonna happen if you stand up to them. Give it your all. Get as much sleep as possible now' Peering at my watch, I saw it was 2.36 am.

'I will wake you all up tomorrow at 7am, we will get our coach down to Johannesburg stadium, warm up, and show those Africans what we've got.'
My troops nodded in aproval, picked up their bags and went, preparing for the battle that lay ahead.

I layed in bed that night with my notebook out, deciding my first 11.
It was decided, the 11 scribbled in my notebook.


1) Gayle
2) Ganga
3) Lara
4) Chanderpaul (C)
5) Sarwan
6) Bravo
7) Morton
8) Ramdin
9) Edwards
10) Collymore
11) Mohammed




I licked my lips, shut my book, and drifted off to sleep.

 

[Highlander999]

Wow, great read. All the best with this, it has a lot of potential

 

[adyhorn]

Good luck.

 

[westindies2007]

I like your selection there.
Except R hinds and Ganga, who is really isn't much to look forward for.

here is what i think about the W.I team you have here i hope you don't mine my comment

Chanderpaul- Yes W.I is nothing without him, great batsman, but not good as Captain.

Gayle, the perfect Captain for West Indies and when he is in form, no one can stop him.

Sarwan, a great player, he is calm when he play the game, great player.

Hinds, good performer in Domestic games, but International level need alot of work

Ganga, To overrated, not a great player, but yes, he is a good captain, knows how to handle the team of T & T.

Smith, Devon Smith right. I like him, but he don't have much confidence when he goes to bat.

Powell, A good Bowler, not not consistent

Samuels, to overrated, good player when he is in the game. but nothing special

Morton, nice player, again only when he is in the game.

Ramdin, good keeper, but not a good batsman (P. Browne or C Baugh are better bat-keeper)

Bravo, Like Chanderpaul, W.I is nothing without him.

The other Smith, Dywane Smith, good allrounder, but his batting is dropping day by day.

Collymore, good bowler,keeep the runrate down, but isn't really good at taken wickets

Bradshaw, Greatest Bowler that came late into West Indies, in a short span of his career, he made it big. (note: he also retire from W.I & Barbados cricket, plays only local club cricket)

Edwards, Fastest Bowler in West Indies.

Banks, good choice to add a new player.

Mohammed, great spinner that is too underrated in W.I Selectors.

and Lara, 1 sentense. The Greatest batsman of our Decade.

Wonder where W.I best Bowler is gone??
J.Taylor most consistant bowler of W.I
P Collin also a very underrated bowler by W.I slectors.

 

[innes]

Cheers for the input mate, ill make sure your views are heard so I will include your opinion in my story

 

[Jit]

great start

 

[Pakistani Army]

A brilliant read mate. Reps coming your way. Keep up the great detail mate.

 

[innes]

thank you for the kind words everyone, will update it either later on tonight, or early tomorrow morning

 

[Pakistani Army]

No problems mate. Take your time.

 

[innes]

I awoke, facing the window of my bedroom. The sun was beating down, something I wasnt used to back at home, but I could sense the humidity, something which I wasnt used to. I had been given my own en-suite room, with a luxury double bed, a startling bathroom and a glorious balcony.

I pulled on my shorts, my hawaian t-shirt and slipped on my flip-flops. I opened the door to my balcony and began to think.

A 3 match test series, a short tour, yet it meant a lot. It was around this time last month the West Indian board approached me, unemployed at the time, and offered me a job. I accepted without hesistation and began my work. However, this tour was all or nothing. Win or draw, my job is secure. Lose, and Im looking down the barrell.

I slid on my shades, and layed down on the sunbed with my laptop. It beeped, and I realised I had received new email.

[email protected]

Received (2 hours ago)

I like your selection there.
Except R hinds and Ganga, who is really isn't much to look forward for.

here is what i think about the W.I team you have here i hope you don't mine my comment

Chanderpaul- Yes W.I is nothing without him, great batsman, but not good as Captain.

Gayle, the perfect Captain for West Indies and when he is in form, no one can stop him.

Sarwan, a great player, he is calm when he play the game, great player.

Hinds, good performer in Domestic games, but International level need alot of work

Ganga, To overrated, not a great player, but yes, he is a good captain, knows how to handle the team of T & T.

Smith, Devon Smith right. I like him, but he don't have much confidence when he goes to bat.

Powell, A good Bowler, not not consistent

Samuels, to overrated, good player when he is in the game. but nothing special

Morton, nice player, again only when he is in the game.

Ramdin, good keeper, but not a good batsman (P. Browne or C Baugh are better bat-keeper)

Bravo, Like Chanderpaul, W.I is nothing without him.

The other Smith, Dywane Smith, good allrounder, but his batting is dropping day by day.

Collymore, good bowler,keeep the runrate down, but isn't really good at taken wickets

Bradshaw, Greatest Bowler that came late into West Indies, in a short span of his career, he made it big. (note: he also retire from W.I & Barbados cricket, plays only local club cricket)

Edwards, Fastest Bowler in West Indies.

Banks, good choice to add a new player.

Mohammed, great spinner that is too underrated in W.I Selectors.

and Lara, 1 sentense. The Greatest batsman of our Decade.

Wonder where W.I best Bowler is gone??
J.Taylor most consistant bowler of W.I
P Collin also a very underrated bowler by W.I slectors.

I glanced a smile, a happy fan. I replied telling him of my gratitude.

My alarm rang, it was 7am. Time to wake the players. I went round knocking on everyones door telling them to wake up. Groans came from inside their rooms, but eventually I heard draws being opened, clothes rustling and voices talking to eachother.

Once we had our breakfast, a sizzling buffet, the whole team entered the coach and I drove them down to Johhanesburg, 10 minutes down the road.

There was even more anxiety in the coach than the aircrat. Noone knew what to expect. A pretty new team, everyone eager to prove themselves to me. Throughout the journey, Chanderpaul was telling his team where they would field, and phsycing everyone up. He was a good motivator, but I could only think about WestIndies2007's comments about Gayle's captaincy. I pushed them to the back of my head and put confidence in Chanderpaul.

There seemed no trouble with any of the team, health wise. Of course, many were suffering from nerves, but you could expect that.

I finally reached our destination. I could feel the coach shake with the butterflies of the players. I rose from my chair, said nothing but nodded my head. They rose and silently made their way into the ground.

The ground was huge, and it hit the players hard. The stadium looked down on them like a monster ready to gobble them all up. I caught a snap on my phone, not much but I have stored it away for future memories; the memory of my team walking into the battle arena.

 

[Ollie_H]

This is a top start mate, looking like a really class story, how are you playing this?

 

[innes]

cheers man

Using c05, hopefully will produce good results

 

[westindies2007]

I must Say this is one Story i will be really looking forward to, I am supporting you 100% . maybe another e-mail from me as the match goes on

 

[innes]

I slowly climbed the stairs leading to our changing rooms. The door was already ajar, and I could see my whole team was changed and bursting to get out there. Training done and dusted, I looked at the clock and it read 10.50 am.. the match began at 11.30am, the toss was at 11am. I said to Chanderpaul
'Bat first'.
He nodded, he knew it, he was prepared. I looked around the changing room, and sent the other 7 lads who wernt in the starting 11 away.

1) Gayle
2) Ganga
3) Lara
4) Chanderpaul (C)
5) Sarwan
6) Bravo
7) Morton
8) Ramdin
9) Edwards
10) Collymore
11) Mohammed

The 11 that will make or break me.

After just sitting there for what seemed an eternity, the door opened, then shut- Chanderpaul had gone out to do the toss. This was the first battle of the war we were being faced with. A major toss in which almost definitly South Africa would bat first too.
Gayle was surprisingly still in his shorts, looking as chilled as ever. Him and Samuels were sat side by side, playing a game of Blackjack to pass the time. I could see Sarwan was focused though, just staring straight at the door, ready to run straight through it and onto the pitch. I too felt the same, but I could only watch from the balcony.

 

[westindies2007]

looking good.
perfect story.